Solid preparation packaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A solid preparation packaging apparatus includes a solid preparation accommodating unit, a transfer mechanism unit and a solid preparation packaging mechanism unit each individually accommodated in a main body so as to be capable of being pulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction; an electrical component chamber containing a CPU circuit board and a power supply at the lowest portion of the solid preparation packaging apparatus, and a flexible wiring cover mounted across the electrical component chamber and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit in order to pass, through the flexible wiring cover, a wiring of the solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit to the CPU circuit board and the power supply.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a solid preparation packaging apparatuswhich is installed, for example, in hospitals or dispensing pharmaciesin order to charge packaging sheets or bottles with solid preparationsspecified in a prescription (hereinafter, the solid preparation will bereferred to all the solidified preparations such as medical tablets,capsules, pills, and troches).

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in hospitals and the like, solid preparation packagingapparatuses are used to separately wrap a dose (the amount to be takenat a time) of multiple types of medical tablets or capsules (which willbe referred to as solid preparations) prescribed by the physician foreach patient and then provide the dose to the patient (see PatentLiterature 1).

This solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 is configured such that asolid preparation accommodating unit 3 with a number ofvertically-elongated prism-shaped tablet cases 6 disposed in an array soas to accommodate solid preparations by type is located at an upperportion, and a discharge and count unit which functions to discharge andcount the accommodated solid preparations is included under each of thetablet cases 6. Below the solid preparation accommodating unit 3, thereis disposed a transfer mechanism 10 which is made up of a hopper and aconveyor. The transfer mechanism 10 receives the solid preparationsdischarged from the tablet cases 6 and guides the solid preparations tothe charging port formed by the lower hopper member so that the solidpreparations are collected to one place. Below the transfer mechanism10, there is disposed a solid preparation packaging mechanism 14, whichseparately packs (referred to as separate wrapping) a dose (the amountto be taken at a time) of solid preparations collected to the chargingport of the lower hopper member.

In the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1, with various types ofsolid preparations stored by type in the tablet cases 6, the operatorinputs prescription data based on a prescription at an input unit suchas a personal computer electrically connected to the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 and then starts the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1. The controller of the solid preparation packaging apparatus1 is then operated to actuate the discharge and count unit for apredetermined tablet case 6; a dose (the amount to be taken at a time)of solid preparations is discharged; and the solid preparationscollected by the transfer mechanism 10 into the lower hopper member areintroduced into the solid preparation packaging mechanism 14. In thesolid preparation packaging mechanism 14, a pouch for the amount to betaken at a time is formed by a heat-sealing mechanism from asequentially transferred packaging sheet 20, and then a dose (the amountto be taken at a time) of solid preparations collected into the lowerhopper member is separately wrapped by being accommodated and thensealed in one pouch.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei.    10-118159

In the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 which operates in thismanner, the printing mechanism prints required information such as thetiming of taking the dose and the name of the patient on each pouch.Accordingly, the controller incorporated into the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 includes various types of electronic circuitboards on which formed are electronic circuits for exchanginginformation with the input unit as well as for controlling the dischargeand count unit of the solid preparation accommodating unit 3, theconveyor of the transfer mechanism 10, the feed mechanism for thepackaging sheet 20 in the solid preparation packaging mechanism 14, theheat-sealing mechanism, the printing mechanism and the like. Theelectronic circuit boards mainly include a central processing unitcircuit board (also referred to as the CPU circuit board) for exchanginginformation with the input unit and for providing collective control tothe solid preparation packaging apparatus 1, and a printing circuitboard for the printing mechanism. Furthermore, the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 also includes a power supply for supplying powerto these circuit boards, power to the motor of the conveyor of thetransfer mechanism 10, power to the motor of the feed mechanism for thepackaging sheet 20 in the solid preparation packaging mechanism 14, andpower to the driving portion and the heater of the heat-sealingmechanism.

Like the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 disclosed in PatentDocument 1, the main body may include the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3 disposed at an upper portion, the transfermechanism 10 disposed below the solid preparation accommodating unit 3,and the solid preparation packaging mechanism 14 disposed below thetransfer mechanism 10. In this case, by taking the ease of loading solidpreparations into the tablet cases 6 into account, the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3 at the upper stage is capable of being pulled outor pushed back in the back-and-forth direction, while by takinginspection and repair into account, the transfer mechanism 10 and thesolid preparation packaging mechanism 14 at the lower stages are capableof being simultaneously pulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forthdirection. In this case, the printing circuit board and the power supplyare accommodated near the solid preparation packaging mechanism 14 at alower stage; however, the central processing unit circuit board is afairly large flat plate, and thus by taking heat radiation into account,disposed vertically on the outer surface of the rear wall of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus 1.

It is thus difficult to inspect or repair the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3, the transfer mechanism 10, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism 14. In particular, it is cumbersome toincorporate, inspect, repair, or replace the wiring to each circuitboard and the wiring to the power supply in the solid preparationpackaging apparatus. Furthermore, since the central processing unitcircuit board is disposed on the outer surface of the rear wall of thesolid preparation packaging apparatus 1, the circuit board has to becovered with a cover in order to prevent the human body from touchingthe circuit board or dust particles from being adhered thereto. Thisleads to an increase in costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of these problems, the present invention provides a solidpreparation packaging apparatus which facilitates the inspection andrepair of the solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfermechanism, and the solid preparation packaging mechanism as well asfacilitates the incorporation, inspection, repair, and replacement ofthe wiring to each circuit board and the wiring to the power supply.Accordingly, since the fairly large flat central processing unit circuitboard is disposed inside the solid preparation packaging apparatus, thetechnique of the present invention is configured to provide the solidpreparation packaging apparatus at the lowest portion thereof with anelectrical component chamber where the central processing unit circuitboard and the power supply are accommodated, thereby facilitating theincorporation, inspection, repair, and replacement of the wiring to thecentral processing unit circuit board and the power supply. Furthermore,the provision of the electrical component chamber at the lowest portionof the solid preparation packaging apparatus makes it possible toprovide a lowered center of gravity to the solid preparation packagingapparatus and thereby an improved effect of preventing the solidpreparation packaging apparatus from being toppled over when the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism are configured to be capable of beingpulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction.

Furthermore, in order that the solid preparation packaging apparatuswhich is operated with a voltage of 100 volt in Japan can also be usedabroad or operated with a voltage higher than 100 volt (for example, at120 volt), the power supply is additionally provided with a transformeras one component. For example, since the transformer to be employed tostep down 120 volt to 100 volt is generally 5 to 6 kg in weight, thetransformer can be placed at the center of the rear portion in theelectrical component chamber. When this weight is used for the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism to be capable of being pulled out orpushed back in the back-and-forth direction, the technique provides aneffect of preventing the solid preparation packaging apparatus frombeing toppled over.

The solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, andthe solid preparation packaging mechanism are configured to be capableof being pulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction. Inthis case, when these components are drawn out or the number of tabletcases in the solid preparation accommodating unit increases, the solidpreparation packaging apparatus would tend to be more easily unbalanced,causing concerns to rise over the danger of the apparatus being toppledover with the solid preparation accommodating unit kept drawn out.Accordingly, when the solid preparation packaging apparatus is used inJapan, a dedicated balance weight may be included. In this case, thisbalance weight leads to increase in costs because the weight isspecially made and requires mounting holes to be provided on themounting flanges. In this context, attention is focused on the fact thatthe aforementioned transformer for general-purpose use, which iscomparatively inexpensive, can be employed at low costs as the balanceweight. With a prediction that the solid preparation packaging apparatusshould be able to be used in a given higher-voltage region as describedabove, the aforementioned transformer is incorporated into the solidpreparation packaging apparatus being produced. When the solidpreparation packaging apparatus is used in Japan, the wiring will detouraround the transformer, which acts only as the balance weight, therebyproviding, at low costs, the effect of preventing the apparatus frombeing toppled over. On the other hand, in the case when the solidpreparation packaging apparatus is used abroad where a transformer mustbe used, the solid preparation packaging apparatus into which thetransformer is incorporated can be exported. Thus, the technique of thepresent invention makes it possible to make the solid preparationpackaging apparatus available abroad as well as in Japan and implementat low costs the effect of preventing the apparatus from being toppledover.

Furthermore, the solid preparation packaging apparatus is additionallyprovided at the lowest portion thereof with the electrical componentchamber where the central processing unit circuit board and the powersupply are accommodated. In this case, the technique of the presentinvention makes the inventive solid preparation packaging apparatusgreater in height than a conventional solid preparation packagingapparatus, thereby facilitating the incorporation, inspection, repair,and replacement of the wiring associated with the central processingunit circuit board and the power supply. Furthermore, the technique alsomakes it possible to provide the solid preparation packaging apparatuswith a lowered center of gravity and thereby an improved effect ofpreventing the apparatus from being toppled over when the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism are configured to be capable of beingpulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction.

Furthermore, the specific solid preparation supply unit may be disposedon the upper surface of the solid preparation packaging apparatus sothat specific solid preparations are loaded from above into the bucketsof the specific solid preparation supply unit. In this case, the solidpreparation packaging apparatus provided by the present invention makesthe inventive solid preparation packaging apparatus greater in heightthan a conventional solid preparation packaging apparatus so as tofacilitate the loading of the specific solid preparations from aboveinto the buckets.

Furthermore, treating foreign characters other than Japanese charactersand English letters as text data would require high costs for creatingand processing the data. In order to solve this problem, the presentinvention provides a solid preparation packaging apparatus which cantreat the text data as image data for printing and which includes aspecific character printing circuit board, for providing control toprinting, in the electrical component chamber at the lowest portion ofthe apparatus, thereby facilitating the mounting of the circuit boardand the wiring to the circuit board.

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a solid preparationpackaging apparatus, in a main body of which a solid preparationaccommodating unit having a plurality of tablet cases disposed in anarray is disposed at an upper portion, each of the tablet casesaccommodating solid preparations by type, the solid preparationaccommodating unit having a discharge mechanism for discharging theaccommodated solid preparations; a transfer mechanism unit for receivingthe solid preparations discharged from the tablet cases and collectingthe solid preparations into a charging port is disposed below the solidpreparation accommodating unit; and a solid preparation packagingmechanism unit for forming a pouch on a strip of packaging sheet and forcharging each pouch with the solid preparations collected in thecharging port and sealing the pouch is disposed below the transfermechanism unit. The solid preparation packaging apparatus is configuredsuch that

the solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit,and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit are each individuallyaccommodated in the main body so as to be capable of being pulled out orpushed back in the back-and-forth direction;

the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit includes a printingmechanism unit for printing on the pouch;

the main body is provided with an electrical component chamber below thesolid preparation packaging mechanism;

the electrical component chamber is provided with a central processingunit circuit board (also referred to as a CPU circuit board) forproviding collective control to the solid preparation packagingapparatus, and a power supply for supplying power to the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit, and thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit; and

a flexible wiring cover which is continually curved as the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit is pulled out of or pushed backinto the main body is mounted across the electrical component chamberand the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit in order to pass,through the flexible wiring cover, the wiring of the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit to the central processing unit circuit boardand the power supply.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a solid preparationpackaging apparatus, in a main body of which a solid preparationaccommodating unit having a plurality of tablet cases disposed in anarray is disposed at an upper portion, each of the tablet casesaccommodating solid preparations by type, the solid preparationaccommodating unit having a discharge mechanism for discharging theaccommodated solid preparations; a transfer mechanism unit for receivingthe solid preparations discharged from the tablet cases and collectingthe solid preparations into a charging port is disposed below the solidpreparation accommodating unit; and a solid preparation packagingmechanism unit for forming a pouch on a strip of packaging sheet and forcharging each pouch with the solid preparations collected in thecharging port and sealing the pouch is disposed below the transfermechanism unit. The solid preparation packaging apparatus is configuredsuch that

the solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit,and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit are each individuallyaccommodated in the main body so as to be capable of being pulled out orpushed back in the back-and-forth direction;

the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit includes a printingmechanism unit for printing on the pouch;

the main body is provided with an electrical component chamber below thesolid preparation packaging mechanism;

the electrical component chamber is provided with a central processingunit circuit board (also referred to as a CPU circuit board) forproviding collective control to the solid preparation packagingapparatus, and a power supply for supplying power to the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit, and thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit, the electrical componentchamber being further provided with an image printing circuit boardrequired for the printing mechanism unit to print based on image data;and

a flexible wiring cover which is continually curved as the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit is pulled out of or pushed backinto the main body is mounted across the electrical component chamberand the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit in order to pass,through the flexible wiring cover, the wiring of the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit to the central processing unit circuit board,the image printing circuit board, and the power supply.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to the solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to the first and second aspects of theinvention, wherein the printing circuit board of the printing mechanismunit is disposed at the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit.

A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to the solidpreparation packaging apparatus according to any one of the first tothird aspects of the invention, wherein a step-down transformer isprovided as a component of the power supply, and the transformer ismounted at a weight balance position at the center of a rear portion inthe electrical component chamber.

A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspectsof the invention, wherein

the main body is provided at a top front portion thereof with a specificsolid preparation supply unit for supplying, to the transfer mechanismunit, specific solid preparations accommodated in a plurality of bucketseach having an upper opening,

on a top surface region of the main body behind the specific solidpreparation supply unit, a flat surface is formed to place thereon aninput unit such as a personal computer for transmitting and receivinginformation to/from the central processing unit circuit board; and

a flat-shaped lid to cover the buckets can be removably placed on thespecific solid preparation supply unit.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism can be each individually configured tobe pulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction, and can bethus inspected and repaired with ease. Furthermore, the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism are each individually capable of beingpulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction. Additionally,the main body of the solid preparation packaging apparatus is providedat the lowest portion thereof with the electrical component chamber,where the central processing unit circuit board and the power supply areaccommodated. Accordingly, when compared with a conventional solidpreparation packaging apparatus which has the central processing unitcircuit board disposed on the outer surface of the rear wall thereof,the central processing unit circuit board provided inside the main bodyof the solid preparation packaging apparatus eliminates the need forcovering the same with a special cover in order to prevent the circuitboard from being touched by the human body or prevent dust particlesfrom being adhered to the circuit board. This makes it possible to cutcosts as compared with the aforementioned conventional one.

Furthermore, the main body is provided at the lowest portion thereofwith the electrical component chamber, where the central processing unitcircuit board and the power supply are accommodated. When compared withthe conventional one, this structure facilitates the incorporation,inspection, repair, and replacement of the wiring to the centralprocessing unit circuit board and the power supply. Furthermore, theprovision of the electrical component chamber at the lowest portion ofthe solid preparation packaging apparatus makes it possible to provide alowered center of gravity to the solid preparation packaging apparatus.This structure can provide an improved effect of preventing the solidpreparation packaging apparatus from being toppled over when the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism are configured to be capable of beingpulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction.

Furthermore, the flexible wiring cover which is continually curved asthe solid preparation packaging mechanism unit is pulled out or pushedback is mounted across the electrical component chamber and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit. This structure allows, as a matterof course, the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit to be smoothlypulled out or pushed back while the wiring is protected. Additionally,in this structure, the electrical wiring from the electrical componentchamber at the lowest portion to the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit disposed above the same can be inspected and repairedwith ease because the flexible wiring cover portion can be visuallychecked with the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit kept drawnout.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the electricalcomponent chamber is provided, in addition to the central processingunit circuit board and the power supply, with the image printing circuitboard required for the printing mechanism unit to print based on imagedata. The flexible wiring cover mounted across the electrical componentchamber and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit is configuredsuch that the wiring of the solid preparation accommodating unit, thetransfer mechanism unit, and the solid preparation packaging mechanismunit is passed through the flexible wiring cover to the centralprocessing unit circuit board, the image printing circuit board, and thepower supply. This structure, including the wiring from the electricalcomponent chamber to the image printing circuit board, can provide thesame effects as those of the aforementioned first aspect of theinvention.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the printingmechanism unit and the printing circuit board are provided inconjunction with the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit, wherebythe wiring for connecting between the printing mechanism unit and theprinting circuit board can be reduced in length. Furthermore, theprinting circuit board and the central processing unit circuit board canbe laid through the flexible wiring cover, whereby the same effects asthose of the aforementioned first aspect of the invention can beprovided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in order thatthe solid preparation packaging apparatus which is operated with avoltage of 100 volt in Japan can also be used abroad or operated with avoltage higher than 100 volt (for example, at 120 volt), the powersupply is additionally provided with a transformer as one component. Inthis case, for example, a transformer for general-purpose use which isto step down 120 volt to 100 volt is typically 5 to 6 kg in weight.Accordingly, the transformer can be incorporated into the solidpreparation packaging apparatus in advance so that the user can choosewhether to use the apparatus in Japan or abroad. It is thus possible topreferably prevent the solid preparation packaging apparatus from beingtoppled over, without a costly special balance weight.

Concerning the fifth aspect of the present invention, while the mainbody is provided on the top front portion thereof with the specificsolid preparation supply unit for accommodating specific solidpreparations in the buckets and supplying the specific solidpreparations to the transfer mechanism unit, information includinginformation on the specific solid preparations accommodated in thebuckets may be transmitted/received using an input unit such as apersonal computer to/from the central processing unit circuit board. Inthis case, manipulating this input unit placed on a desk or the likeinstalled near the solid preparation packaging apparatus would requirethe place for the desk and is inconvenient. Accordingly, to allow theinput unit to be used on the solid preparation packaging apparatus, aflat area for placement of the input unit is formed on the top surfaceregion of the main body behind the specific solid preparation supplyunit. On the other hand, the buckets of the specific solid preparationsupply unit have to be covered with a lid for hygienic reasons.Conventionally, since this lid was of an open/close type, the input unitplaced behind the lid could not be operated with the lid open. The fifthaspect of the invention provides a solid preparation packaging apparatuswhich solves these problems at one stroke by placing the flat-shapedlid, for covering the buckets, so as to be removably placed on thespecific solid preparation supply unit, whereby the input unit can bemanipulated with ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view illustrating the arrangement of eachstage of the solid preparation packaging apparatus according to thepresent invention with each stage drawn out;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view illustrating the solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to the present invention with tablet casesdrawn out;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory side view illustrating the solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to the present invention with the tabletcases drawn out and a specific solid preparation supply unit mounted onthe apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view illustrating the unit structure of the tabletcases of the solid preparation packaging apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory front view illustrating the slide rail portionof the tablet cases of the solid preparation packaging apparatusaccording to the present invention and the mounting portion of thespecific solid preparation supply unit;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration ofthe specific solid preparation supply unit of the solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration ofa bucket portion of the specific solid preparation supply unit of thesolid preparation packaging apparatus according to the present inventionand the driving unit therefor;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view illustrating the configuration of the bucketportion of the specific solid preparation supply unit of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus according to the present invention andthe driving unit therefor;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating the passageway structurethrough which specific solid preparations are delivered from thespecific solid preparation supply unit of the solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of atransfer mechanism unit of the solid preparation packaging apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating a solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit of the solid preparation packaging apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating the form of apackaging sheet in the solid preparation packaging apparatus accordingto the present invention and how the opening of a pouch is formed;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shutter unit forcharging a solid preparation into a pouch of the packaging sheet in thesolid preparation packaging apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating the use of thespecific solid preparation supply unit and an input unit of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view illustrating the arrangement of a solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit including a printing mechanism unitof the solid preparation packaging apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view illustrating the positional relation of aflexible wiring cover in an electrical component chamber of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side view illustrating the flexible wiring cover when thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit has been pushed back in thesolid preparation packaging apparatus according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating the flexible wiring cover when thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit is pulled out of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a solid preparation packaging apparatus,in the main body of which a solid preparation accommodating unit havinga plurality of tablet cases disposed in an array is disposed at an upperportion, each of the tablet cases accommodating solid preparations bytype, the solid preparation accommodating unit having a dischargemechanism for discharging the accommodated solid preparations; atransfer mechanism unit for receiving the solid preparations dischargedfrom the tablet cases and collecting the solid preparations into acharging port is disposed below the solid preparation accommodatingunit; and a solid preparation packaging mechanism unit for forming apouch on a strip of packaging sheet and for charging each pouch with thesolid preparations collected in the charging port and sealing the pouchis disposed below the transfer mechanism unit. The solid preparationpackaging apparatus is configured such that

the solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit,and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit are each individuallyaccommodated in the main body so as to be capable of being pulled out orpushed back in the back-and-forth direction;

the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit includes a printingmechanism unit for printing on the pouch and a printing circuit boardfor the printing mechanism unit;

the main body is provided with an electrical component chamber below thesolid preparation packaging mechanism;

the electrical component chamber is provided with a central processingunit circuit board (also referred to as a CPU circuit board) forproviding collective control to the solid preparation packagingapparatus, and a power supply for supplying power to the solidpreparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit, and thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit; and

a flexible wiring cover which is continually curved as the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit is pulled out of or pushed backinto the main body is mounted across the electrical component chamberand the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit in order to pass,through the flexible wiring cover, the wiring of the solid preparationaccommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit to the central processing unitcircuit board and the power supply. The embodiment thereof will now bedescribed below.

First Embodiment

The solid preparation packaging apparatus according to the presentinvention is installed, for example, in hospitals or dispensingpharmacies in order to charge a solid preparation specified in aprescription (hereafter, the solid preparation will be referred to alltypes of solidified preparations such as medical tablets, capsules,pills, and troches) into packaging sheets, bottles or the like. Theembodiment to be described below relates to a solid preparationpackaging apparatus which is configured to charge a solid preparationinto a pouch formed on a packaging sheet shaped in an elongated strip.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1according to the present invention, which is installed, for example, inhospitals or dispensing pharmacies, is mainly made up of a solidpreparation accommodating unit 3 formed in a rectangular main body 2; atransfer mechanism unit 10 which is provided thereunder; a solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit 14 which is provided thereunder;and an electrical component chamber 80 which is provided under thepackaging mechanism unit 14. The solid preparation accommodating unit 3is formed at an upper portion in the main body 2 so that the front ofthe solid preparation accommodating unit 3 is opened or closed with afront door 4 that is pivotally moved in the frontward and downwarddirection. Furthermore, the transfer mechanism unit 10 is opened orclosed with a drawer-type front door 5 on the front thereof, and can bedrawn out of the main body 2 in conjunction with the front door 5 forrepair, inspection or the like. The transfer mechanism unit 10 isdesigned to be stopped with a stopper (not shown) when drawn out of themain body 2 to a predetermined position (maximum drawn-out position).Furthermore, the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 is openedor closed with a drawer-type front door 43 on the front thereof, and canbe drawn out of the main body 2 in conjunction with the front door 43.The electrical component chamber 80 is formed at a lower portion in themain body 2, where on the front side thereof, there is formed a backupchamber 81 which is separated from the electrical component chamber 80by a partition wall 99, and the front of the backup chamber 81 is closedwith double doors 82 that can be each opened rightward or leftward. Thebackup chamber 81 serves to store a spare wound roll of packaging sheet20 or the like.

The solid preparation accommodating unit 3 is provided with a pluralityof tablet cases 6 in an array, each for accommodating solidpreparations, i.e., solidified medicines such as the medical tablets,capsules, pills, and troches, according to the type thereof. Below eachof the tablet cases 6, there is disposed a discharge mechanism 6A fordischarging solid preparations one by one. The discharge mechanism 6Aincludes a motor-driven discharge drum thereinside and is provided witha discharge and count unit such as a photo-sensor. The discharge drum isconstructed to allow solid preparations to be received vertically in oneline in a plurality of grooves formed on the side thereof. Then, thedischarge drum is configured to rotate and thereby drop the solidpreparations one by one from each groove, and the number of the solidpreparations is detected and counted by the discharge and count unit. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each group of a given number of tablet cases 6,which is placed on a rectangular dish shaped receiver member 42, forms asingle unit, so that each unit is retained so as to be drawable alongslide rails 43 in the back-and-forth direction while the front door 4 iskept pivotally opened in the downward position. As shown in FIGS. 3 and5, the one illustrated includes four units Y1 to Y4, each of which isconfigured to be stopped with a stopper (not shown) when drawn out ofthe main body 2 to a predetermined position (maximum drawn-out position)while the front door 4 is kept open.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, to replenish the tablet cases 6with solid preparations, the front door 4 is opened, and then thereceiver member 42 is drawn out so that the tablet cases 6 are movedonto the front door 4. After the tablet cases 6 have been replenishedwith solid preparations, the receiver member 42 is pushed back so thatthe tablet cases 6 are placed back in the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3.

The tablet cases 6 are drawable in the back-and-forth direction in thismanner, which allows for replenishing the tablet cases 6 with solidpreparations or replacing the tablet cases 6 themselves withoutrequiring any space above the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1.This allows for saving space.

Furthermore, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 is provided, on the top front portion of the mainbody, with a specific solid preparation supply unit 7. The specificsolid preparation supply unit 7 is configured to accommodate and feedspecific solid preparations which cannot be stored in the tablet cases6, that is, special solid preparations (for example, tablets cut intotwo) or specially prescribed solid preparations. As shown in FIGS. 6 to9, on a base plate 7A, the specific solid preparation supply unit 7 isconfigured to include a timing belt 46 (alternatively chains or gearsmay also be employed in this case) looped between pulleys 44 which arerotatably mounted on the base plate 7A; a plurality of buckets 47mounted on the timing belt 46 and having an opening on the top thereof;a cover 48 mounted on the base plate 7A so as to cover these components;and a flat-shaped lid 7B which is removably placed on the specific solidpreparation supply unit 7 so as to cover all the buckets 47.

The specific solid preparation supply unit 7 is detachably provided onthe main body 2. The specific solid preparation supply unit 7 isconfigured to include, on the main body 2, a motor 8 and a pulley 9which is coupled to the motor 8 by means of a belt 8A, allowing a shaft9A of the pulley 9 to fit into one of the pulleys 44 on one end side ofthe specific solid preparation supply unit 7. Then, when driven by themotor 8, the timing belt 46 is driven to rotate.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, there is formed a drop passageway 7Bon the other end side of the specific solid preparation supply unit 7 onthe top of the main body 2, so that the drop passageway 7B communicateswith the transfer mechanism unit 10, to be discussed later. Each of thebuckets 47 of the specific solid preparation supply unit 7 stores eachspecific solid preparation as mentioned above, so that the user can turnon the switch to rotate the motor 8, thereby sequentially rotationallydriving each of the buckets 47.

Furthermore, the bottom surface of each of the buckets 47 is providedwith an open/close bucket lid 47A which is pivotably supported so as tobe opened downwardly in the travel direction. When the bucket 47 comesto an opening 7C in the drop passageway 7B, the bucket lid 47A is openeddownwardly so that the specific solid preparation in the bucket 47 isallowed to drop through the drop passageway 7B as indicated with arrow Pin FIG. 10. The drop passageway 7B is disposed above a hopper 51 to bediscussed later.

This structure allows the specific solid preparations in each of thebuckets 47 to be discharged only by means of the motor 8 withoutrequiring other driving units, and thus the entire structure issimplified. Note that the bucket lid 47A is hit and then closed by themain body 2 after the buckets 47 passed through the opening 7C.

As shown in FIG. 11, the transfer mechanism unit 10 is mainly made up ofthe hopper 51 and a conveyor 52, so that the hopper 51 and the conveyor52 cover the bottoms of all the tablet cases 6. As shown in FIG. 2, thetransfer mechanism unit 10 is configured such that the hopper 51 and theconveyor 52 are integrally retained on slide rails 10A so as to bepulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction in conjunctionwith the front door 5. The hopper 51 includes a lower hopper member 41which is located on the right side when viewed from the front andgenerally at the center in the back-and-forth direction, and an upperhopper member 53 with front, rear, and right sides which are steeplyinclined downwardly (at a sharp angle of inclination) to be linked tothe lower hopper member 41. The lower hopper member 41 is funnel-shaped,and has an opening or a rectangular charging port 13 at the lowest endthereof.

The conveyor 52 includes right and left rotational rollers 55, and anelastic sheet 61 looped over these rollers 55 with a predeterminedtension. The conveyor 52 is driven by a motor (not shown) so that theupper surface travels in the transfer direction or from left to right asdenoted by arrow Q in FIG. 11. Furthermore, the conveyor 52 is arrangedto be downwardly inclined from left to right toward the charging port 13of the lower hopper member 41, so that as shown in FIG. 11, the transferend (the right end) is located above the left end of the lower hoppermember 41. Furthermore, the upper hopper member 53 is downwardlyinclined (generally at an angle of 37°) from front and rear of theconveyor 52 toward immediately above the upper-side elastic sheet 61 ofthe conveyor 52.

There is provided a shutter unit 71 on the lower side of the lowerhopper member 41. The shutter unit 71 allows a controller 35 (to bediscussed later) to control a solenoid (not shown), so that right andleft shutter plates 72 and 73 (to be discussed later) are driven to openor close the charging port 13, allowing the solid preparation in thelower hopper member 41 to be delivered downward.

The solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 is provided with aprinting mechanism unit 15, a first heat-sealing mechanism unit 28, asecond heat-sealing mechanism unit 29, and transfer means for thepackaging sheet 20 (to be discussed later), which are each disposed on aflat-shaped table 96 along a transfer passageway through which thepackaging sheet 20 is transferred in the form of an elongated strip. Thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 is configured such thatthe table 96 can be pulled out of and pushed back into the main body 2in conjunction with the front door 43 along rail units 97 which areprovided on both the right and left sides in the main body 2.

The solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 is provided with thetransfer means for the packaging sheet 20 as described above. Thetransfer means for the packaging sheet 20 includes: feed means forfeeding the packaging sheet 20 in the form of an elongated strip from apackaging sheet roll 20R around which an elongated strip of thepackaging sheet 20 is wound in a roll shape; guide means for guiding thefed packaging sheet 20 to a predetermined position; and pull-in meansfor pulling the leading end of the packaging sheet 20. As shown in apartially enlarged perspective view in FIG. 16, the packaging sheet feedmeans is provided with a feed motor 18. The feed motor 18 is formed of aservo mechanism the rotation of which can be readily controlled andconfigured to rotate at a predetermined RPM for a predetermined periodof time in response to a received signal. Furthermore, a rotation shaft19 of the feed motor 18 is removably fitted into a hollow shaft 21 onwhich the center portion of the packaging sheet roll 20R wound in a rollshape is mounted, allowing the packaging sheet roll 20R to be detachablyattached to the rotation shaft 19 of the feed motor 18. Accordingly,with the hollow shaft 21 fitted over the rotation shaft 19, therotational power of the rotation shaft 19 of the feed motor 18 rotatesthe packaging sheet roll 20R so as to feed the packaging sheet 20.

Here, a description will be made to the packaging sheet 20. Thepackaging sheet 20 serves to receive and pack the solid preparation andthe specific solid preparation, and is made of a thin heat-sealablepaper material with a heat-sealable material, such as polyethylenedissolved at a predetermined temperature, employed as an supplementalmedium. A longitudinally elongated strip of the packaging sheet 20 of apredetermined width is wound around the hollow shaft 21 in a roll shape.Furthermore, the packaging sheet 20 is folded into two generally at thecenter in the width direction so as to form a double sheet. Thus, thepackaging sheet 20 has a fold 20A or the lower end of the folded doublesheet and an opening 20B defined by both ends of the folded double sheet(the upper ends opposite to the fold 20A). The packaging sheet 20 iswound around the hollow shaft 21 and forms the packaging sheet roll 20Rwhile kept in the form of the folded double sheet, and is provided witha hard portion 20C at an extreme end of the packaging sheet roll 20R,i.e., at the leading end of the packaging sheet 20.

The hard portion 20C is formed in a predetermined size from the leadingend of the packaging sheet 20 so as to prevent the packaging sheet 20from being easily deformed when loaded up to pull-in rollers 30 throughthe printing mechanism unit 15, the first heat-sealing mechanism unit28, and the second heat-sealing mechanism unit 29, to be discussedlater. The hard portion 20C is formed, for example, by heat-sealing theentire range of the predetermined size from the leading end of thepackaging sheet 20 (the trailing end of the winding of the packagingfolded double sheet 20 which is wound around the hollow shaft 21). Thisallows the packaging sheet 20 to be loaded in a normal condition up tothe pull-in rollers 30 without the leading end of the packaging sheet 20being easily bent. The pull-in rollers 30 are equivalent to theaforementioned pull-in means which pulls the leading end of thepackaging sheet 20, and as shown in FIG. 12, the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit 14 is started to operate when the hard portion20C is set to be located between the pull-in rollers 30.

Furthermore, the packaging sheet roll 20R wound in a roll shape reachesthe pull-in rollers 30 through the transfer passageway having a straightpassageway portion and a curved passageway portion while being drawn inthe shape of an elongated strip. The curved passageway portion has aguide roller disposed as appropriate, while the straight and curvedpassageway portions have a guide wall disposed as appropriate. Theseguide roller and guide wall constitute the guide means which guides thefed packaging sheet 20 to a predetermined position, thereby allowing thepackaging sheet 20 to smoothly pass through the curved passageway.

As shown in FIG. 12, the pull-in rollers 30 are configured such that apair of narrow rubber rollers 33A and 33B (rollers such as of naturalrubber or synthetic rubber) are rotatably attached to rotation shafts32A and 32B with a pull-in motor 31 provided under the rotation shaft32B to which one of the rubber rollers 33B is attached. The rotationshaft 32A of the other rubber roller 33A is subjected to force exertedby a coil spring (not shown) or the like, thereby causing the rubberroller 33A to be brought into pressure contact with the rubber roller33B at a predetermined pressure. Under this condition, the pull-in motor31 is rotated, thereby allowing both the rubber rollers 33A and 33B torotate. Then, while the packaging sheet 20 is sandwiched between boththe rubber rollers 33A and 33B, the rotational power of the pull-inmotor 31 is configured to rotate the rotation shaft 32B and thus rotatethe rubber roller 33B, thereby causing the packaging sheet 20 to bedrawn and fed toward the opposite side.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the printing mechanism unit 15, thefirst heat-sealing mechanism unit 28, and the second heat-sealingmechanism unit 29 are sequentially disposed along the transferpassageway through which the packaging sheet roll 20R wound in a rollshape travels to reach the pull-in rollers 30. The printing mechanismunit 15 is to print the required information, such as the product nameand the timing of taking the solid preparation, on the outer surface ofa pouch 36 (to be discussed later). Furthermore, the first heat-sealingmechanism unit 28 and the second heat-sealing mechanism unit 29 serve toheat-seal the opening 20B of the packaging sheet 20 and partition thepackaging sheet 20 into the pouches 36, each for a unit dose, and aremade up of a pair of first heaters 28A and 28B, and a pair of secondheaters 29A and 29B, which are opposed to each other with apredetermined distance therebetween, respectively. Note that of theseheaters 28A, 28B, 29A, and 29B, the heaters 28B and 29B on one side arelinked to each other by a link plate 74 so as to form a fixed side.Furthermore, the heaters 28A and 29A on the other side are provided withan actuator (not shown) and actuated to be brought into pressure contactwith or spaced apart from the respective opposing heaters 28B and 29B.Then, each of the heaters 28A, 28B, 29A, and 29B is energized andthereby heated to predetermined temperatures.

The first heaters 28A and 28B sandwich and heat the packaging sheet 20on the both sides thereof to thereby perform transverse heat-sealing 27Aon the leading side of the packaging sheet 20 in the feed direction. Onthe other hand, the second heaters 29A and 29B sandwich and heat thepackaging sheet 20 on the both sides thereof to thereby performtransverse heat-sealing 27B on the trailing side of the packaging sheet20 in the feed direction subsequently to the heat-sealing 27A, and alsoperform heat-sealing 27B on the opening 20B at the upper portion. Asindicated with arrow R in FIG. 12, this allows the packaging sheet 20 totravel a predetermined distance toward the pull-in rollers 30 by therotational power of the pull-in rollers 30, that is, the portionheat-sealed by the transverse heat-sealing 27A travels to the positionat which vertical portions 29A1 and 29B1 of the second heaters 29A and29B are opposed to each other. Then, the second heaters 29A and 29Bheat-seal the packaging sheet 20 to thereby sequentially form a pouch36A having the opening 20B between the first heaters 28A, 28B and thevertical portions 29A1, 29B1 of the second heaters 29A, 29B as well asto form, on the pull-in rollers 30 side, the pouch 36 with the sidesthereof other than the fold 20A heat-sealed.

Furthermore, the second heaters 29A and 29B form a plurality ofperforated holes 37 generally along the center of the width of aheat-sealed portion 27B (from the fold 20A to the opening 20B) whenheat-sealing from the fold 20A to the opening 20B of the packaging sheet20 above the transverse heat-sealing 27A performed by the first heaters28A and 28B. This allows the three sides of the packaging sheet 20 otherthan the fold 20A to be heat-sealed to provide a rectangular pouch 36with the entire perimeter closed, and the pouches 36 can be separatedfrom each other by being torn off along the perforated holes 37.

Such a structure allows the packaging sheet roll 20R to be rotated bythe feed motor 18 and the packaging sheet 20 to be thereby fed, so thatthe hard portion 20C formed at the leading end of the packaging sheet 20travels toward the pull-in rollers 30 sequentially through the transferpassageway. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the hard portion 20C of thepackaging sheet 20 being fed reaches the pull-in rollers 30 sequentiallythrough the printing mechanism unit 15, the first heat-sealing mechanismunit 28, and the second heat-sealing mechanism unit 29.

When the packaging sheet 20 has been fed to the pull-in rollers 30, boththe rubber rollers 33A and 33B of the pull-in rollers 30, while inpressure contact with each other, pull the packaging sheet 20 in theopposite direction (toward the right in FIG. 12). Thus, the packagingsheet 20 is pulled in between the pull-in rollers 30 and the front endthereof is then pulled out toward the front through a pull-out port 77formed on the door 43. This makes it possible to guide and thus load thepackaging sheet 20 at predetermined positions in a care-free manner.

Here, the feed motor 18 and the pull-in motor 31 are rotated in a mannersuch that the amount of travel of the packaging sheet 20 pulled inbetween the pull-in rollers 30 is greater than the amount of travel ofthe packaging sheet 20 fed from the roll-shaped packaging sheet 20R, soas to provide a predetermined tension between the roll-shaped packagingsheet 20R and the pull-in rollers 30, thereby allowing the packagingsheet 20 to be transferred with stability.

When the roll-shaped packaging sheet roll 20R is loaded in apredetermined condition, the condition is detected by a switch (notshown). When the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 is turned onunder that condition, the count of the number of dropped solidpreparations is reset. Furthermore, it is assumed that the sub-heater 28and the main heater 29 have been heated to a predetermined temperatureand the conveyor 52 has been energized and thereby driven.

On the basis of a physician's prescription, the operator enters theprescription data on an input unit PC (such as a personal computer),which is electrically connected to the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1, and then presses the start key. This causes the dischargedrum of the tablet cases 6, in which the solid preparation is stored, tobe rotationally driven, so that the solid preparation of the type thatis specified by the prescription data is dropped one by one into thehopper 51 or onto the conveyor 52. Furthermore, the solid preparationfed from the specific solid preparation supply unit 7 is also allowed todrop onto the conveyor 52 in the same manner by a user's givenoperation.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, the input unit PC is placed onthe upper surface area of the main body 2 behind the specific solidpreparation supply unit 7, i.e., on a planar placement area 2A for theinput unit PC. As described above, the lid to cover all the buckets 47in the specific solid preparation supply unit 7 is not designed to bepivoted backwardly upright but is constructed as the flat-shaped lid 7Bwhich can be removably placed on the specific solid preparation supplyunit 7. Accordingly, to load specific solid preparations into thebuckets 47 with the input unit PC placed on the planar placement area2A, the flat-shaped lid 7B can be removed, allowing the user to operatethe input unit PC from the front of the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 without being disturbed by the flat-shaped lid 7B. It isthus possible to load specific solid preparations into the buckets 47and operate the input unit PC smoothly.

The number of solid preparations being dropped from the tablet cases 6is counted by the controller 35 on the basis of the output from thephoto-sensor. When the count of dropped solid preparations agrees withthe number of solid preparations specified by the prescription data, theoperation of the discharge mechanism 6A is stopped to finish droppingthe solid preparation.

At this time, the solid preparation from the tablet cases 6 above thelower hopper member 41 will directly drop into the lower hopper member41. Furthermore, the solid preparation dropped onto the upper hoppermember 53 drops into the lower hopper member 41 due to the inclinationof the upper hopper member 53. The solid preparation dropped onto theupper hopper member 53 drops onto the elastic sheet 61 of the conveyor52 due to the inclination of the upper hopper member 53. Then, the solidpreparations are fed into the lower hopper member 41 in conjunction withthose that have been directly dropped onto the elastic sheet 61.

Here, since the conveyor 52 is inclined, the solid preparation on theelastic sheet 61 is fed to the lower hopper member 41 by means of thisinclination and the transfer power of the conveyor 52 itself. Inparticular, the inclination of the conveyor 52 can prevent or retardcylindrical tablets or the like from being rotated where they are on theelastic sheet 61.

Then, the solid preparations collected in this manner in the lowerhopper member 41 are temporarily retained on the shutter unit 71. Asshown in FIG. 14, the shutter unit 71 includes the right and leftshutter plates 72 and 73. The shutter plates 72 and 73 are integratedwith the solid preparation retainers 72A and 73A for retaining the solidpreparations collected in the lower hopper member 41 by closing thecharging port 13, and with opening holders 72B and 73B for opening theopening 20B of the pouch 36A to the right and left, respectively.Accordingly, when a dose of all the solid preparations is retained onthe solid preparation retainers 72A and 73A of the shutter plates 72 and73 closed as shown in FIG. 14, the shutter unit 71 is actuated to openthe shutter plates 72 and 73, so that the opening 20B of the pouch 36Ais wide opened by the opening holders 72B and 73B as shown in FIGS. 12and 13. Furthermore, at the same time, since the solid preparationretainers 72A and 73A are opened, the solid preparations collected inthe lower hopper member 41 are loaded into the pouch 36A of thepackaging sheet 20 which is located below.

Since the solid preparations are loaded into the pouch 36A by wideopening the opening 20B by the shutter plates 72 and 73 in this manner,the solid preparations can be charged into the pouch 36A of thepackaging sheet 20 smoothly with reliability. Furthermore, since theshutter plates 72 and 73 also serve to temporarily retain the solidpreparation dropped with the charging port 13 closed, it is possible toreduce parts count.

As shown in FIG. 14, after the solid preparation is accommodated in thepouch 36A of the packaging sheet 20 in this manner, the shutter unit 71causes the solid preparation retainers 72A and 73A of the shutter plates72 and 73 to close the charging port 13 again. Since each of the openingholders are brought into contact at the same time, the opening 20B ofthe packaging sheet 20 is substantially closed to complete the pouch 36.Next, while the pull-in rollers 30 are actuated by the controller 35 soas to pull and stop the packaging sheet 20 at a predetermined position,the heat-sealing mechanism unit 29 heat-seals the opening 20B of thepackaging sheet 20 as described above. Note that at the stage prior tothe first heat-sealing mechanism unit 28, the required information, suchas the product name and the timing of taking the solid preparation, isprinted by the printing mechanism unit 15 on the outer surface of theportion equivalent to the pouch 36 of the packaging sheet 20.

The required information is printed by the printing mechanism unit 15 onthe pouch 36 on the basis of the prescription data in this manner. Atthe same time, a given number of solid preparations of the type based onthe prescription data are automatically packed in the pouch 36, so thata strip of the package with a series of the pouches 36 in which thesolid preparations are packed is fed to the pull-out port 77. When thepredetermined packaging work is completed in this manner, the operationof the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 is stopped. The user ofthe solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 tears off the strip of thepackage with the series of the pouches 36 along the last perforatedholes 37 thereof, takes the strip of the package out of the pull-outport 77, and then passes the package to the patient.

The present invention provides the aforementioned solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 with a structure which facilitates wiring to eachcircuit board constituting the controller 35 and the incorporation,inspection, repair, and replacement of the wiring in the power supply.The present invention also provides an improved technique for preventingthe solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 having a lowered center ofgravity from being toppled over when the solid preparation accommodatingunit 3, the transfer mechanism 10, and the solid preparation packagingmechanism 14 are constructed to be pulled out or pushed back in theback-and-forth direction. Now, a description will be made to thistechnique.

The controller 35 refers to the entire control circuit which consists ofa central processing unit circuit board (also referred to as the CPUcircuit board) 90 as a main component and a printing circuit board 91 ofthe printing mechanism unit 15 electrically connected to the CPU circuitboard 90. The CPU circuit board 90 has a central processing unit (CPU)circuit which exchanges information with the input unit PC such as apersonal computer electrically connected to the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 and which is responsible for collective controlover the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1.

The aforementioned solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 provides thefollowing collective control: exchange of information with the inputunit PC; ON/OFF control of the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1;feed control of the solid preparation from the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3; feed control of the specific solid preparationfrom the specific solid preparation supply unit 7; detection of theattachment condition of the packaging sheet roll 20R; control over thefeed means for feeding the packaging sheet 20 in the shape of a strip,the guide means for guiding the fed packaging sheet 20 to apredetermined position, the pull-in means for pulling the leading end ofthe packaging sheet 20, the conveyor 52, the shutter unit 71, and thefirst heat-sealing mechanism unit 28 and the second heat-sealingmechanism unit 29 which form the pouch 36 on the packaging sheet 20;control on printing by the printing mechanism unit 15 onto the packagingsheet 20; and control on displaying on a display unit 100. Thiscollective control is provided so that the operation of each componentof the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1, such as the solidpreparation accommodating unit 3, the specific solid preparation supplyunit 7, the transfer mechanism 10, and the solid preparation packagingmechanism 14, is executed with predetermined timing and in a given step.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the electrical component chamber 80 isprovided with a power supply 92 for supplying power to the solidpreparation accommodating unit 3, the transfer mechanism unit 10, andthe solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14. Furthermore, sincethe central processing unit circuit board 90 includes the CPU, a memorydevice, and components related thereto and is thus a fairly largeflat-shaped circuit board, the central processing unit circuit board 90is also installed in the electrical component chamber 80. The centralprocessing unit circuit board 90 is disposed vertically on the partitionwall 99 on the rear side of the partition wall 99 between the electricalcomponent chamber 80 and the backup chamber 81.

To smoothly lay electrical wiring 95 from the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit 14 to the central processing unit circuit board90 and the power supply 92, a flexible wiring cover 93 which iscontinuously curved as the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14is pulled out of or pushed back into the main body 2 is laid between theelectrical component chamber 80 and the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit 14. The flexible wiring cover 93 is disposed in closeproximity to the inner surface of the sidewall of the main body 2 on oneof the right and left sides of the electrical component chamber 80 andthe solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14.

The flexible wiring cover 93 is well-known as disclosed, for example, inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-242481, and configuredsuch that a plurality of links 94 are coupled to each other to berotationally moved, and the wiring 95 is inserted into the coupled links94 with the wiring 95 kept flexible. Thus, the flexible wiring cover 93having such a function would not be limited to a particular structure.

As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the flexible wiring cover 93 is installedsuch that one end portion (the lower end portion) thereof or a mountingportion 93B is mounted rotationally movably at an appropriate locationon the partition wall 99 between the electrical component chamber 80 andthe backup chamber 81; the other end portion (the upper end portion)thereof or a mounting portion 93C is rotatably mounted on the table 96of the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14; and theintermediate portion between the electrical component chamber 80 and thetransfer mechanism unit 10 forms a backwardly projected curved portion93A which is disposed in a space behind the table 96. Accordingly, asshown in FIG. 18, when the front door 43 is closed so that the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit 14 is accommodated in (pushed backinto) place, the curved portion 93A of the flexible wiring cover 93 islocated at the rearmost position.

As shown in FIG. 19, for the inspection, repair, or replacement of partsof the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14, the table 96supported on the rail units 97 is drawn out of the main body 2 inconjunction with the front door 43. At this time, the flexible wiringcover 93 serves to smoothly draw the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit 14 by allowing the wiring 95 passing through the links 94to be curved while the position of the curved portion 93A is continuallymoved as the coupled links 94 are rotated one after another.

Then, as shown in FIG. 19, the table 96 is configured to stop at astopper (not shown) provided on the rail units 97 when drawn out of themain body 2 to a predetermined position (the maximum drawn-out position)in conjunction with the front door 43. Accordingly, at the predeterminedposition (the maximum drawn-out position), the entire solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit 14 is exposed, including the portion 93B atwhich the flexible wiring cover 93 is rotatably mounted on the table 96of the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14, so that theentirety of the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 includingthe flexible wiring cover 93 can be visually checked from the front ofthe main body 2. In this pulling-out state, it is possible to check fordamage to the wiring 95 that extends through the flexible wiring cover93 to the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14, allowing repairor replacement to be performed as required.

On the other hand, to accommodate the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit 14 in the main body 2, the front door 43 is pushed backand thereby the table 96 supported on the rail units 97 is pushed backat the same time. At that time, the flexible wiring cover 93 serves tosmoothly push back the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 byallowing the wiring 95 passing through the links 94 to be curved whilethe position of the curved portion 93A is moved as the coupled links 94rotationally move one after another.

The printing mechanism unit 15 includes the printing circuit board 91which is necessary for the printing mechanism unit 15 to print pre-setcharacters (Japanese characters in this example), and the printingcircuit board 91 is covered with a cover 98 that is detachably screwedonto the table 96. Note that to dissipate heat from the solidpreparation packaging apparatus 1 including the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit 14, there is provided a heat radiation fan 105on the table 96 or on the rear wall of the main body 2 corresponding tothe heat radiation hole formed on the rear wall of the main body 2associated with the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14.

The wiring 95 extending from the electrical component chamber 80 throughthe flexible wiring cover 93 to the area of the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit 14 includes the wiring related to the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit 14: the power supply lines from thepower supply 92 to the printing mechanism unit 15, the firstheat-sealing mechanism unit 28, the second heat-sealing mechanism unit29, and the transfer means of the packaging sheet 20, which constitutethe solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14; a signalcommunication line from the central processing unit circuit board 90 tothe printing circuit board 91; and a signal communication line to animage printing circuit board 103 (to be discussed later) and theprinting mechanism unit 15. Note that it is preferable that the powersupply lines from the power supply 92 to the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3, the transfer mechanism unit 10, and the specificsolid preparation supply unit 7 pass through the flexible wiring cover93. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 has, on the front top thereof, the display unit100 for displaying the settings or the operation status of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus 1 as well as control keys 101 forentering settings, it is also preferable that the signal communicationlines from the central processing unit circuit board 90 to the displayunit 100 and the setting control keys 101 pass through the flexiblewiring cover 93.

As described above, to dispose the central processing unit circuit board90 or a fairly large flat-shaped board inside the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1, the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 isprovided at the lowest portion thereof with the electrical componentchamber 80, where the central processing unit circuit board 90 and thepower supply 92 are accommodated, thereby facilitating theincorporation, inspection, repair, and replacement of the wiring to thecentral processing unit circuit board 90 and the power supply 92.Furthermore, the provision of the electrical component chamber 80 at thelowest portion in the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 makes itpossible to provide a lowered center of gravity to the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 and thereby an improved effect of preventing theapparatus 1 from being toppled over when the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3, the transfer mechanism unit 10, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit 14 are configured to be capable ofbeing pulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forth direction.

Furthermore, the flexible wiring cover 93 that is continually curved asthe transfer mechanism unit 10 is pulled out of or pushed back into themain body 2 is mounted across the electrical component chamber 80 andthe transfer mechanism unit 10 in order to allow the wiring 95 to passfrom the solid preparation accommodating unit 3, the transfer mechanismunit 10, and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit 14 to thecentral processing unit circuit board 90 and the power supply 92. As amatter of course, this structure allows the transfer mechanism unit 10to be smoothly pulled out or pushed back while protecting the wiring 95.Additionally, when compared with the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 which has a conventional two-stage structure (with the solidpreparation accommodating unit in the first stage, and the transfermechanism unit and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit in thesecond stage) as well as the apparatus 1 which has a conventionalthree-stage structure (with the solid preparation accommodating unit inthe first stage, the transfer mechanism unit and the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit in the second stage, and the backup chamber inthe third stage), the main body 2 of the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 may be increased in height and the specific preparationsupply unit 7 may be disposed on the front top of the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1. In this case, the height can be designed so as tofacilitate loading of specific solid preparations into the specificpreparation supply unit 7, also allowing the input unit PC to be placedon the upper surface of the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 soas to be always operated with ease.

On the other hand, to adapt the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1for use abroad, it is necessary to print characters (to be referred toas specific characters) based on the language of the country. In thiscase, to treat the language of the country as text data, a great deal oftime and costs may be required for the development of software. In orderto avoid such a situation, the present invention treats the language ofsuch a country not as text data but as image data, so that the imagedata may be used by the printing mechanism unit 15 to print requiredinformation, such as the product name of and the timing of taking thesolid preparation, on the outer surface of the portion equivalent to thepouch 36. The characters to be treated as the specific charactersinclude, for example, Arabic characters and Chinese characters otherthan Japanese characters and English letters.

Thus, according to the present invention, the text representative of therequired information such as the product name of and the timing oftaking the solid preparation to be printed on the outer surface of thepouch 36 is pre-stored in a memory device as image data, so that at thetime of printing, the image data is read for printing. Accordingly, theimage printing circuit board 103 which constitutes the memory device forstoring image data in this manner and a control circuit associatedtherewith is disposed in the electrical component chamber 80. A signalcommunication line connects between the image printing circuit board 103and the central processing unit circuit board 90, a circuit of the imageprinting circuit board 103 is operated in response to an operationcommand from the central processing unit circuit board 90, and then theprinting mechanism unit 15 prints the characters based on the image dataon the outer surface of the pouch 36.

In this case, the signal communication line between the image printingcircuit board 103 and the central processing unit circuit board 90 isalso included in the wiring 95 from the electrical component chamber 80through the flexible wiring cover 93 to the region of the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit 14. In this case, as with theaforementioned case, the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 isprovided with a lowered center of gravity and thus can be prevented frombeing toppled over. Moreover, the apparatus 1 allows the specific solidpreparation to be handled with ease and the input unit PC to be placedand operated always with ease on the upper surface of the solidpreparation packaging apparatus 1.

Furthermore, in order that the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1which is operated with a voltage of 100 volt in Japan can also be usedabroad or operated with a voltage higher than 100 volt (for example, at120 volt), the power supply 92 is additionally provided with atransformer 104 as one component. For example, since the transformer 104to be employed to step down 120 volt to 100 volt is generally 5 to 6 kgin weight, the transformer 104 can be placed at the center of the rearportion in the electrical component chamber 80 in order to balance theweight distribution. When the solid preparation accommodating unit 3,the transfer mechanism 10, and the solid preparation packaging mechanism14 are configured to be capable of being pulled out or pushed back inthe back-and-forth direction, the weight of the transformer 104 providesa great effect of preventing the possibility of the solid preparationpackaging apparatus 1 being toppled over frontward.

Furthermore, as the number of tablet cases 6 in the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3 increases, the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 would tend to be more easily unbalanced, causing concerns torise over the danger of being toppled over with the solid preparationaccommodating unit 3 kept drawn out. Accordingly, when the apparatus 1is used in Japan, a dedicated balance weight may be included. In thiscase, this balance weight leads to an increase in costs because theweight is specially made and requires mounting holes to be provided onthe mounting flanges. In this context, attention is focused on the factthat the aforementioned transformer 104 for general-purpose use, whichis comparatively inexpensive, can be employed at low costs as thebalance weight. With a prediction that the apparatus 1 should be able tobe used at a given higher voltage as described above, the aforementionedtransformer 104 is incorporated into the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 being produced. When the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 is used in Japan, the wiring will detour around thetransformer 104, which acts only as the balance weight, therebyproviding, at low costs, the effect of preventing the apparatus 1 frombeing toppled over. On the other hand, in the case when the solidpreparation packaging apparatus is used abroad where a transformer mustbe used, the solid preparation packaging apparatus 1 into which thetransformer 104 is incorporated in advance has only to be exported.

Furthermore, as described above, the present invention is configuredsuch that the top surface region of the main body 2 behind the specificsolid preparation supply unit 7 serves as the planar placement area 2Afor the input unit PC, and the flat-shaped lid 7B to cover the bucketportion 47 can be removably placed on the specific solid preparationsupply unit 7. While a lid to cover the bucket portion 47 is formed tobe openable backwardly by means of a hinge assembly, the specific solidpreparation may be loaded into the bucket portion 47 with the lid openand at the same time, the information thereof may be checked or enteredon the input unit PC placed on the planar placement area 2A. In thiscase, the opened lid serves as an obstacle, so that the input unit PCcan be manipulated from the front of the solid preparation packagingapparatus 1 with difficulty. To avoid this situation, the input unit PCmust be unpreferably placed on a desk or table near the solidpreparation packaging apparatus 1. However, the present invention hassolved such a problem because the input unit PC placed on the topsurface region of the main body 2 can be manipulated with ease.

Various modifications may be made to the solid preparation packagingapparatus according to the present invention without departing from thetechnical scope of the present invention, and all such modifications mayfall within the scope of the present invention. The solid preparationpackaging apparatus is not limited to the structure illustrated in theaforementioned embodiment but may also encompass various modes withinthe scope of the solid preparation packaging apparatus which can providethe same effects as those described above.

1. A solid preparation packaging apparatus, in a main body of which asolid preparation accommodating unit having a plurality of tablet casesdisposed in an array is disposed at an upper portion, each of the tabletcases accommodating solid preparations by type, the solid preparationaccommodating unit having a discharge mechanism for discharging theaccommodated solid preparations; a transfer mechanism unit for receivingthe solid preparations discharged from the tablet cases and collectingthe solid preparations into a charging port is disposed below the solidpreparation accommodating unit; and a solid preparation packagingmechanism unit for forming a pouch on a strip of packaging sheet and forcharging each pouch with the solid preparations collected in thecharging port and sealing the pouch is disposed below the transfermechanism unit, wherein: the solid preparation accommodating unit, thetransfer mechanism unit, and the solid preparation packaging mechanismunit are each individually accommodated in the main body so as to becapable of being pulled out or pushed back in the back-and-forthdirection; the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit includes aprinting mechanism unit for printing on the pouch; the main body isprovided with an electrical component chamber below the solidpreparation packaging mechanism; the electrical component chamber isprovided with a central processing unit circuit board (also referred toas a CPU circuit board) for providing collective control to the solidpreparation packaging apparatus, and a power supply for supplying powerto the solid preparation accommodating unit, the transfer mechanismunit, and the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit; and a flexiblewiring cover which is continually curved as the solid preparationpackaging mechanism unit is pulled out of or pushed back into the mainbody is mounted across the electrical component chamber and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit in order to pass, through theflexible wiring cover, wiring of the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit to the central processing unit circuit board and thepower supply.
 2. A solid preparation packaging apparatus, in a main bodyof which a solid preparation accommodating unit having a plurality oftablet cases disposed in an array is disposed at an upper portion, eachof the tablet cases accommodating solid preparations by type, the solidpreparation accommodating unit having a discharge mechanism fordischarging the accommodated solid preparations; a transfer mechanismunit for receiving the solid preparations discharged from the tabletcases and collecting the solid preparations into a charging port isdisposed below the solid preparation accommodating unit; and a solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit for forming a pouch on a strip ofpackaging sheet and for charging each pouch with the solid preparationscollected in the charging port and sealing the pouch is disposed belowthe transfer mechanism unit, wherein: the solid preparationaccommodating unit, the transfer mechanism unit, and the solidpreparation packaging mechanism unit are each individually accommodatedin the main body so as to be capable of being pulled out or pushed backin the back-and-forth direction; the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit includes a printing mechanism unit for printing on thepouch; the main body is provided with an electrical component chamberbelow the solid preparation packaging mechanism; the electricalcomponent chamber is provided with a central processing unit circuitboard (also referred to as a CPU circuit board) for providing collectivecontrol to the solid preparation packaging apparatus, and a power supplyfor supplying power to the solid preparation accommodating unit, thetransfer mechanism unit, and the solid preparation packaging mechanismunit, the electrical component chamber being further provided with animage printing circuit board required for the printing mechanism unit toprint based on image data; and a flexible wiring cover which iscontinually curved as the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit ispulled out of or pushed back into the main body is mounted across theelectrical component chamber and the solid preparation packagingmechanism unit in order to pass, through the flexible wiring cover,wiring of the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit to the centralprocessing unit circuit board, the image printing circuit board, and thepower supply.
 3. The solid preparation packaging apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the printing circuit board of the printing mechanismunit is disposed at the solid preparation packaging mechanism unit. 4.The solid preparation packaging apparatus according to claim 1, whereina step-down transformer is provided as a component of the power supply,and the transformer is mounted at a weight balance position at thecenter of a rear portion in the electrical component chamber.
 5. Thesolid preparation packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein themain body is provided at a top front portion thereof with a specificsolid preparation supply unit for supplying, to the transfer mechanismunit, specific solid preparations accommodated in a plurality of bucketseach having an upper opening, on a top surface region of the main bodybehind the specific solid preparation supply unit, a flat surface isformed to place thereon an input unit such as a personal computer fortransmitting and receiving information to/from the central processingunit circuit board; and a flat-shaped lid to cover the buckets can beremovably placed on the specific solid preparation supply unit.
 6. Thesolid preparation packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theprinting circuit board of the printing mechanism unit is disposed at thesolid preparation packaging mechanism unit.
 7. The solid preparationpackaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a step-downtransformer is provided as a component of the power supply, and thetransformer is mounted at a weight balance position at the center of arear portion in the electrical component chamber.
 8. The solidpreparation packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mainbody is provided at a top front portion thereof with a specific solidpreparation supply unit for supplying, to the transfer mechanism unit,specific solid preparations accommodated in a plurality of buckets eachhaving an upper opening, on a top surface region of the main body behindthe specific solid preparation supply unit, a flat surface is formed toplace thereon an input unit such as a personal computer for transmittingand receiving information to/from the central processing unit circuitboard; and a flat-shaped lid to cover the buckets can be removablyplaced on the specific solid preparation supply unit.